Jiri to Everest Base Camp Trek

Arriving into Kathmandu is an unforgettable experience, with the Himalayas in the background. Your aircraft will arrive at (TIA) Tribhuwan International Airport at 1350m once you have received your Nepal entry visa, which may be acquired in advance or upon arrival. The visa procedure at Kathmandu TIA will take around 45 minutes, depending on the number of people in line. For information about Nepal entrance visas, please visit the Nepal government's official website, Department of Immigration Nepal. After you leave the gate, you will find our representative waiting for you with a placard with the firm name. A representative will greet you and provide a Tibetan scarf before transporting you to the hotel in a private vehicle. Trek briefed, and then invited to a a host family for welcome dinner.
[Included meals: Welcome drink]
Overnight at hotel

The Kathmandu Sightseeing Tour starts after breakfast and includes visits to some of the most beautiful UNESCO World Heritage sites. We will go to Swayambhu Stupa, an old religious building on a hill in the Kathmandu Valley, known as the "Monkey Temple." Next, we'll visit Boudha Stupa, the largest stupa in Nepal, and Pashupatinath, an important Shiva Temple and cremation center in the Kathmandu Valley. After completing the sightseeing tour, we'll go back to the hotel and get ready for the trek in the Himalayas.

Meals provided: Bed and Breakfast
Stay overnight at the hotel.

The journey starts with a drive via Dhulikhel, Jiri, and Shivalaya. It is a lengthy trip to Bhandar, which is roughly 187 kilometers north-east of Kathmandu. We will go in numerous circuits with modest ups and downs. Enjoying the views of the Koshi River, the trip allows us to see terraced fields, tiny settlements, and spectacular vistas of the eastern Himalayan, including Ganesh Himal (7,422m), Langtang Lirung (7,227m), Dorje Lakpa (6,966m), and countless more snow-capped peaks. As we reach Deorali, we recognize a culturally Tibetan region because of the notable clusters Bhandar.
Overnight in the teahouse.

Take the path from Bhandar that passes past the villages of Dokharpa and Baranda, through dense woods, and across a few streams. Ascend through the woodlands that lead to Surma Khola. We go towards the Likhu Khola Valley and traverse this glacial river till we reach the little hamlet of Kenja. Once we arrive at the little Sherpa settlement of Kenja, we begin our ascent up the precipitous Lamjura. The first part, which goes to Sete, is quite steep. We continue our ascent via Chimbu to reach Sete.
Spend the night in the tea house

The path to Junbesi begins with a protracted ascent to Lamjura La Pass, which is situated at a height of 3530 meters. The lush mountains all around are seen from the highest point between Jiri and Namche Bazar. We first pass through Dakachu and Goyam on our way here, where you can see Mani walls everywhere. A little distance beyond this point, our track climbs directly uphill through the forests of birch, maple, rhododendron, and fir pine, as well as magnolia and maple. After traversing Lamjura, we arrive at Taktor and go down the Taktor River. From here, we trek for a bit till we reach the Sherpa Village of Junbesi.
Spend the night in the tea house

The path goes from Junbesi to the district headquarters, the hospital, the airfield at Phaplu, and a small market at Salleri. Before our sight are the captivating vistas of the Himalaya Mountains. Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Makalu, Thamserku, Mera Peak, and several more tall summits are among the mountains that may be seen. the trek's first sighting of Mount Everest. After leaving Salung, we go downhill to the 2650-meter (8692-foot) Ringmo Khola, then ascend a little distance to reach Ringmo. Here we observe an apple orchard; the Apple House serves rakshi (rice spirit), apple pie, and apple juice. Built in the 1980s, the path from Ringmo to Namche Bazaar circumvents We encounter numerous steep descents and ascents along the older route. Afterward, we reach Trakshindo Pass (3071 m/10073 ft). The trail then descends past the monastery of the same name and continues on to Nuntala at 2440 m/8003 ft.

Overnight stay at the teahouse.

From here, we go downhill and follow the Dudh Koshi (Milk River), then we go up towards Khumbu. We cross a suspension bridge and pass through areas with many Rai and Sherpa villages. After that, we go steeply downhill for about an hour through a mix of forest and farmland to Phuleli. The trail then zigzags for another 45 minutes to a mule station and a long 109-meter suspension bridge that goes across the Dudh Koshi at 1510m. Soon after, we reach Jubing (1680m) and continue on to Churkha. A short walk on a lovely trail leads us to Khari Khola. Khari Khola is a nice place to stay overnight.

Overnight stay at the teahouse.

From here, we climb again, going up to Bupsa Ridge (2350m). The path takes us through a forested area filled with monkeys and birds. We keep going through the thick forest until we reach Kharte. Here, you can enjoy fantastic views of Khari La Pass, Gyachung Kang, Khumbila mountains, and others. The trail to Puiyan stays hidden in the damp and creepy dense forest where the sun doesn't reach. The path in this cool and wet part of the forest can be a bit chilly. A short walk from here brings us to Payu.

Overnight stay at the teahouse.

The path leaves Payu and goes uphill, hoping for more sunlight, with the Dudh Koshi River far below. We climb to Chutok La, and soon we get a view of Lukla through the trees. The path then goes downhill quite a bit to the farming village of Surkhe (2250m). From Surke, the trail goes up towards Chauri Kharka. We go up to Chhiplung and then down to Phakding, enjoying the amazing views of the beautiful Himalayas and Sherpa villages. A short uphill walk further takes us to Phakding. We come down from a small plateau, into the forested valley. After a pleasant trek of 3-4 hours from Lukla, we reach Phakding (2,652m).

Overnight stay at the teahouse.

We follow the Bhote Koshi River and start a steep climb to Namche Bazaar, known as the 'Passage to Everest.' Along the trail, we see stunning views of nearby peaks that are around 6000 meters high. We continue beside the Dudh Koshi River and enter the Sagarmatha National Park. Walking further, we reach Chautra, where we get the first glimpse of Mt. Everest peeking over the Lhotse-Nuptse ridge. From here, it's a short walk to the meeting point of two rivers, the Ijma Drangpa (Imja Khola) and the Nangpo Tsangpo (Bhote Koshi), followed by a steep climb (lasting about 2 hours) to Namche Bazaar. Namche is an important town in the Khumbu region, and it's a prosperous Sherpa community with a weekly Saturday market. After about 5 hours of walking, we arrive at Namche Bazaar (3440m), the Sherpa village and gateway to Everest Base Camp.

Overnight stay at the teahouse.

We go up to the Sherpa Culture Museum, which has nice displays, photos, and information about the culture. Then, we keep climbing to the Everest View Hotel. We visit the charming Sherpa villages of Khumjung and Kunde, where we see the Edmund Hillary hospital. After that, we return to Namche via Shyangboche, where we have a relaxed afternoon.

This rewarding hike gives us great views of Everest, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Kongde, Gang Tega & Taboche, the Nuptse wall, and Lhotse. To the west and north, we see Kongde Pharchamo, Teng Ragi Tau, Lamuche RI & Pimu. To the south is the Dudh Koshi valley. Outside, there is the Tenzing Memorial, decorated with flags and an image of the famous climber. There's also a poem dedicated to Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, written by Ramsey.

Overnight stay at the teahouse.

We go up a bit and cross the Sagarmatha National Park. The trail ahead is pretty with a flat and not too far walk. As we head to Phortse, the trail goes uphill and becomes narrow beside a tall rock face. The regular path goes around a bluff, steadily going up to a big white stupa on the skyline. Yaks often graze in this area. The trek gives us amazing views of Ama Dablam and the hidden peaks of the Hongu valley and Kangtega.

After the stupa, the path becomes a bit challenging. We can clearly see the village of Phortse across the valley. From here, we go downhill for a long way to the Dudh Koshi River. The path is nice through trees down to the teahouse in Phortse Tenga. Then, we continue down, passing a camp/lodge in the forest, to a wooden bridge across the river. Finally, we climb up a bit and reach Phortse village. The Phortse monastery is up above the village. The village is said to be where Lama Sangwa Dorje landed, as per one legend. Trekking through Phortse Sherpa village is a good idea.

Overnight stay at the teahouse.

From here, we climb up the hillside, taking any zigzag path towards the upper part of Phortse near the monastery. The trail to Pangboche is really amazing. This trek gives us great views that we don't see on the main route from Namche to Pangboche. The trail goes up and down, with Thamserku and Kangtega visible at first. When it rounds a bluff, Ama Dablam comes into view in all its grandeur. Continuing around, the trail goes into a small gully. The path zigzags up briefly but steeply; take it slowly, and we will be rewarded with great views.

A short walk further brings us to Pangboche, where we can extend our trip to Ama Dablam Base Camp. From here, we climb up through large trees near the teahouse. This climb is short, then it drops and contours for 15 minutes. The villages of Somare (1010m) and Osrho are a short climb. We walk up a fairly steep climb to reach Dingboche. Finally, the path goes over a small ridge, and we see the village at our destination, which is at 4410m.

Overnight stay at the teahouse.

It's important to take a day to rest and get used to the higher altitude before going up further. The best choice is to go on a hike up the valley to Chhukung (4730m) and, if you want, continue to Island Peak (Imja Tse) or go up to Nangkartshang (5000m) for a short walk. You'll talk about the hiking options with your trek guide during the briefing after dinner. The day hike gives us fantastic views of the Imja valley, Makalu, Amphu Laptse, and the different landscapes around the valley. Afterward, we come back to Dingboche and relax in the afternoon.

Overnight stay at the teahouse.

The path to Lobuche starts north of Dingboche, and from the village, you can clearly see it going up to the ridge. From there, we get good views ahead, including the lateral moraine, and after about 3 hours of trekking, we reach Dugla (4620m). Our journey begins here with a steep climb up the side of the moraine that marks the end of the large Khumbu Glacier. Climbing steadily, the trail goes among boulders and reaches the top near a series of small memorials. Various memorials here honor those who lost their lives in the Khumbu. We cross the usually partially frozen river and stick to the base of low hills all the way to Lobuche. Lobuche may not be the most exciting place to spend the night, but the views of Nuptse are definitely memorable.

Overnight stay at the teahouse.

The walk starts with a gentle climb, and after about an hour, there's a steeper but shorter climb onto more moraines. These are the rocks and debris from the shrinking Changri Nup and Changri Shar glaciers, flowing from the northern sides of Pumori and the peaks of Changri and Chumbu. The trail ahead is covered with large boulders and uneven stones. Crossing this rocky area can be tiring, and the wind is often chilly. After a short walk, we reach Gorak Shep. After lunch, we hike to the base of the world's tallest mountain, Mt. Everest.

The hike begins with winding around boulders, rocky clumps, and the large moraine of the Khumbu Glacier to Everest Base Camp. The setting, with immense ice spires and cathedral-like blocks of ice, has its own dramatic beauty. The ice forms an astonishing gateway to the mountain, creating an almost intoxicating path to the sky. The hike gives us excellent close-up views of the Khumbu Ice Fall, Lhotse, Nuptse, and the mountains that separate Nepal from Tibet, including Pumori and marine rocks. After enjoying the views, we retrace our steps back to Gorak Shep.

Overnight stay at the teahouse.

From here, we cross a dried-up lake and start climbing steeply up the lower ridge of Kala Patthar. Soon, we can see Everest, and that really boosts our spirits. The hike to Kala Pattar is amazing, and from there, we get a 360-degree panoramic view of Mt. Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, the winding Khumbu Glacier, and Ama Dablam dominating the horizon. We can also see Makalu, Nuptse, Kangtega, and Thamserku beyond the peaks above Namche. To the west, there's a beautiful mix of spires and peaks that catch the eye. Looking to the east, there's the black rocky Southwest Face of Everest that grabs all the attention.

After all the thrilling climbing and taking excited photos from the fantastic Kala Pattar, Gorakshep is just a few easy minutes down, well under an hour. After breakfast, we go back down to Pheriche. From Dugla, we head down to a side valley with Taboche peak on the right. Another option for the day is a helicopter ride to Kathmandu or joining Imja Tse (Island Peak Climbing - 6160m) or Mera Peak Climbing (6470m) via less touristy routes like Amphu Lapcha. You can also continue to the Gokyo Lakes Trek & Renjo La Pass via Cho La Pass. Along the route, you can plan to climb Nirekha Peak (6159m) with just a few additional days.

Overnight stay at the teahouse.

After getting back to the main trail, we head to lower Pangboche. From here, the path goes above the river, which is now far below. Along this route, you'll see various Mani Walls and a much-photographed stupa/Chorten. When we descend to a bridge over the Imja Khola, the trail goes into a wispy juniper forest. Walking further on a flat stretch through the forest brings us to Debouche and eventually to Tengboche (3860m). Tengboche Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery of the Sherpa community.

From Tengboche, we walk down into a less dense forest. The trail is dusty and goes down fairly quickly into thicker forests, then steeply descends to the river at the unique Phunki Tenga (3250m). After crossing the river on a wide suspension bridge, the path climbs relentlessly up. Along the way, you'll find lodges and places to have lunch in lower Teshinga. We continue climbing around to Sanasa (3700m), then descend to cross a riverbed. Walking through the forest, we soon reach Kyangjuma and Namche.

Overnight stay at the teahouse.

We go back the same way we came on days 03 and 04. Even though the path is all downhill, the constant slope can be hard on the knees, so using trekking poles will be helpful. We take breaks frequently where we can rest, have tea, and relax.

Overnight stay at the teahouse.

We take a flight back to Manthali (Ramechhap) airport and then transfer to our hotel in Kathmandu. During this time of day, there might be a lot of traffic, especially when entering Kathmandu, and the drive could take 5 hours or more.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

A dedicated representative from GTT will ensure your smooth departure by escorting you to the airport. You will be transported in a private vehicle, and the representative will assist you with any necessary arrangements or information before bidding you farewell at the airport. This personalized service is designed to enhance your travel experience and provide a seamless transition as you embark on your journey.